Andrea Ramírez secured the gold medal in the women’s under-49 kilogram taekwondo division at the XIII South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, leading a strong opening performance for the Colombian delegation. Competing through a demanding bracket, the athlete from Sogamoso, Boyacá, swept her opponents by 2-0 margins to claim the continental title.
Path to the Gold Medal in Santa Fe
The competition opened with dominant performances across multiple rounds on the mat. In her opening quarterfinal matchup, Ramírez faced Peru’s Alessandra Suárez, securing a straightforward victory that advanced her to the next stage. Moving forward to the semifinals, she maintained tactical control against Guyana representative Ceili Peterson, winning once again in straight sets.
In the gold-medal final, Ramírez met Uruguay’s María Grippoli. Demonstrating technical superiority, the Colombian competitor repeated her 2-0 scoreline to seal the championship. Grippoli finished the event with the silver medal, according to regional sports reporting.
Colombian Taekwondo Expands Podium Success
The opening taekwondo sessions at the Santa Fe games brought a second medal for the national squad. Teammate Angelyn Saldaña captured the bronze in the 49-to-57 kilogram division. Although dropped in the early rounds, Saldaña used the tournament's repechage system to reach the third-place bout, where she defeated Peru's Ana Cleonares 2-0 to secure a spot on the podium.
The early double-podium finish provided an immediate boost to Colombia’s medal count at the multi-sport regional games.
Next Steps in the South American Games
Fans can follow official updates and results through the channels of the Colombian Olympic Committee as the multi-sport games progress through their scheduled phases.
Related reading
